live (which he could easily do, as I have said; for he is all
over as hot as a red-hot poker), or that, if the prince succeeded, at
least his country would be freed from the monster.

But the prince, who was lying on the sofa doing sums in compound
division, for fun, said in the politest way:

"Thanks to the education your majesty has given me, I have learned that
the Firedrake, like the siren, the fairy, and so forth, is a fabulous
animal which does not exist. But even granting, for the sake of
argument, that there is a Firedrake, your majesty is well aware that
there is no kind of use in sending _me_. It is always the eldest son who
goes out first, and comes to grief on these occasions, and it is always
the third son that succeeds. Send Alphonso" (this was the youngest
brother), "and _he_ will do the trick at once. At least, if he fails, it
will be most unusual, and Enrico can try his luck."

Then he went back to his arithmetic and his slate, and the king had to
send for Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico. They both came in very warm;
for they had been whipping tops, and the day was unusually hot.

"Look here," said the king, "just you two younger ones look at Prigio!
You see how hot it is, and how coolly he takes it, and the country
suffering; and all on account of a Firedrake, you know, which has
apparently built his nest not far off. Well, I have asked that lout of a
brother of yours to kill it, and he says--"

"That he does not believe in Firedrakes," interrupted Prigio, "The
weather's warm enough without going out hunting!"

"Not believe in Firedrakes!" cried Alphonso. "I wonder what you _do_
believe in! Just let me get at the creature!" for he was as brave as
a lion. "Hi! Page, my chain-armour, helmet, lance, and buckler! _A
Molinda! A Molinda!_" which was his _war-cry_.

The page ran to get the armour; but it was_ so uncommonly hot_ that he
dropped it, and put his fingers in his mouth, crying!

"You had better put on flannels, Alphonso, for this kind of work," said
Prigio. "And if I were you, I'd take a light garden-engine, full of
water, to squirt at the enemy."

"Happy thought!" said Alphonso. "I will!" And off he went, kissed his
dear Molinda, bade her keep a lot of dances for him (there was to be
a dance when he had killed the Firedrake), and then he rushed to the
field!

But he never came back any more!

Everyone wept bitterly--everyone but Prince Prigio; for he thought it
was a practical joke,